THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECT AND MORAL INJURY OF CLERGY SEXUAL ABUSE TO ITS VICTIMS AND CHURCH

This study draws from the experience of Catholic priests in the Philippines. It will be argued that their satisfaction is best understood as a religious emotion despite the challenges they face every day. Their challenges revolve around economic limitation, problems with their bishop and leaders, and relational isolation brought about. The priest-respondents asserted that they are satisfied because they are still able to fulfill their vocation as priests and have an impact on the lives of their parishioners. Priesthood satisfaction in this sense is not an individual state of the mind dependent on the environment and circumstances. Instead, priesthood satisfaction can be understood as a religious emotion that allows them to remain faithful to their vocation as Catholic priests. Often a neglected perspective, this study focused on experiences and responses of the victims of sexual abuse and the Church. This study posed the following questions: What are the lived experiences of the participants as to the psychological effects and moral injury of clergy sexual abuse to its victims and Church? How do the participants face the challenges and demands as to the psychological effects and moral injury of clergy sexual abuse to its victims and Church? A systematic study of the current literature revealed that these participants most often experience sexual abuse and most frequently reported symptoms related to depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder and tended to have difficulties with substance use and engagement in risky sexual behavior later in life.